It’s back to school time!
So many Mamas are sending their babies off to kindergarten or high school or college! So many Mamas (and, yes, Daddies) have emotions creeping up and gushing out.
Well, I live in a college town so “back to school” has a different meaning to the residents of my city. The census for my town says the population is about 176,000. We are a quiet city without traffic delays and clogged highways. Wait, we don’t have highways in my city!
But we are a college town Keep Reading...

I'm not chuckling today. I still have my joy but I'm not chuckling. I don't have a funny story with a spiritual truth to encourage you with today. Why? Tomorrow, my very brave, twenty-three year old newlywed daughter will have a preventative double mastectomy!
She tells it best in her own words and you can read them here. the-bates.com
Photo: Michelle Boyd Photography
We are grateful that our HOPE is a secure anchor in Christ Jesus! Keep Reading...

Back in the 90’s, there was a show on cable TV with a homely lady and a geeky guy. I cannot even remember the name of the people or the name of the show. But I tuned in to watch each week. I even programmed my VCR to record the show! And then I went out and tried to emulate the projects they did on the show. This was before we had a kazillion channels with satellite, or HGTV.
I loved one episode where they did a birdhouse themed room so in the kid’s room that was too young to protest, I Keep Reading...

One of my daughters recently finished a long month of “musical.” She had practices every night after school until 8:00 or 9:00pm. Then she had four days of performing the show. Lots of emotions at the end as it was the last time most would perform together and they were a “family.”
I tried to cheer my daughter.
My husband came home from a long week of travel. Several issues were pressing on him and weighing him down.
I tried to cheer him.
Two family members. One a teenager. One a Keep Reading...

I went Black Friday shopping once. Once.
Once was enough for me. It’s been years since that early morning craziness and I think I have finally recovered from the trauma.
I had never heard of Black Friday until a friend told me how excited she was about “mapping out” the stores she and her sister would hit in the wee hours. She explained how, after the turkey was consumed and everyone was in their turkey coma, she and her sister would gather all of the sales ads from that day’s paper and Keep Reading...

Interruptions
Life is full of interruptions. Maybe they are little interruptions like last week’s.
Last week, I was sitting on my back porch enjoying a cool fall morning with a cup of coffee and a phone conversation with a friend.
All of a sudden, a bird flew onto the patio. The dogs jumped up and chased the bird. The frantic bird flew into my open bedroom door! The frantic dogs chased the bird.
My frantic self repeated, “Oh, no! Oh, no! The bird is in my bedroom!”
My longtime Keep Reading...

If being social were an Olympic sport, my oldest daughter would be a gold medalist. In fact, she would give Michael Phelps a run (or should I say, swim) for his money in the gold medal race. We should have named her “Social” because it is who she is. She loves her friends. She loves being around people.
Most people have a bit of trepidation at the thought of starting high school. Not my oldest. She couldn’t wait to start – because it would mean she would be around people - her “peeps” as she Keep Reading...

Do you know what this is?
If you think it is merely a golf ball retriever, you would be wrong. This is a Hummingbird Rescue Device!
At least it is in my house – or in my garage!
My last house had an unfinished detached garage. Where there should have been a ceiling, there were just rafters. At the roof peak, my husband installed a fan that automatically came on when the temperature reached a certain point and would suck the hot air out of the garage.
That is great unless you are a Keep Reading...

When I ride my bike, there is a two-mile stretch as I leave my neighborhood that is it relatively flat. By Northerner’s standards it would most definitely be considered flat. But in Texas, our guidelines for flatness are a little different. In Texas, anything with an elevation is a hill. On this two-mile stretch ~ with only a slight hill ~ the road is flanked by pastures most of the way. If there is any sort of a breeze, it seems tenfold on this stretch of road –with limited trees to act as a Keep Reading...

A week ago, my parents hosted about 30 kids from our youth group in their home When they left, there was a pile of sheets, blankets and towels that needed to be washed. My sweet, servant-hearted father loaded the back of his car (with the seats down) and headed to the laundromat for the first time in over 50 years!
My sweet Dad
I was reminded of a trip I took to the laundromat.
I hate doing the laundry. I would rather mow the yard in 100-degree temperature then do Keep Reading...

I am a Jesus girl that has been accused of being a "Pollyanna." If being a "Pollyanna" means that Jesus is the source of my hope, then I'm okay with that. My husband and I have raised three daughters and since we survived the teenage years, you will find us standing in the line where they are handing out medals. In addition to loving my family, I love Texas, ice cream, reading, sunsets, hummingbirds and my dogs.